And when he peels off his top for a steamy clinch with his co-star, Caissie Levy, the sight of his rippling torso causes something of a flutter among the ladies in the audience.

Despite the fact that all involved in this show, inspired by the hit 1990 film, stress that the aim for The Fleesh was to make the role of Sam his own, comparisons with dearly departed Patrick Swayze are inevitable.

At the tender age of 21, he is a bit young to make me swoon in the aisles but his acting skills, vocals (and his pecs) are impressive.

An equally daunting match-the-movie challenge rests on the shoulders of Sharon D Clarke, stalwart of West End shows including Hairspray and Chicago in playing the role of Oda Mae Brown.

Whoopi Goldberg won an Oscar for her portrayal of the phoney psychic and you’d think it would be impossible to emulate her. But the actress, known to TV audiences for her role in Holby City and for being a judge on talent show Last Choir Standing, has risen to the challenge with gusto.

And she just about steals the show with her fabulously-frocked Oda.

Yet the ultimate scene-stealers are the amazing special effects – like Sam disappearing through a door. Illusion expert Paul Kieve, who worked on Harry Potter 3, helped create the jaw-dropping visuals which make this a true 21st century musical where technical wizardry vies with the cast and the score for top billing.

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We are all really waiting with great anticipation to see people come and use what it is we’ve built,” says Stephen Wild, managing director of MediaCityUK. “There will be people working here, people visiting here, or going to events and exhibitions here, and that’s phenomenally exciting.”

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The property giant which owns MediaCityUK is this week expected to table a takeover bid for the world famous Pinewood Shepperton studios. John Whittaker's Peel Group, which is developing MediaCityUk at Salford Quays through its Peel Media division, already owns around a third of the shares in the listed Pinewood Shepperton Group.

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